Carlos Gonzalez
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:25 pm
There have been more calls, e-mails, and PM's to me about one player more than any others....and if you guessed Joey Votto, you're wrong.
No, the player is Carlos Gonzalez.
Is CarGo done?
Can he stay healthy?
How much do his numbers go down if traded?
Does he stay healthier in a different location?
After last year's rash of injuries that affected so many drafters and teams, players like CarGo are taking a hit.
I've been in five drafts. CarGo has gone in the bottom of the second round twice. Top of the third round once. Bottom of the third round once. And the bottom of the fourth round.
In the past, a player of CarGo's talents was 'forgiven' for being hurt. After last year, not so much.
My friend Joey Votto is going in the fifth and sixth round of drafts.
Jason Kipnis in the fith, sixth, and seventh.
Dustin Pedroia in the sixth and seventh.
During the first half of last year, drafters were saying that Tulo was a top 5 pick. Now, since injury, he is mostly found in the second round.
Yu Darvish, with all the pitching talent in the world, is a fourth round pick most of the time.
Players like these were like buying dented canned goods at a grocery store. We get a discount for the obvious nicks and dents we see. What we're hoping for is that the product is intact for future use.
This year is different.
The only player going consistently in the first round this year, who was injured last year, is Paul Goldschmidt.
He is forgiven, presumably, because he is a first basemen and 1b seem to get hurt less than others.
150 games played has become almost or as important as past 30 sb or past 30 home run seasons from somebody like Carlos Gonzalez.
So, what about CarGo?
CarGo had just 11 homers and hit .238 in 260 ab's last year. We can say it was because he played through injury.
But, that would be wrong.
The Rockies are like an over-protective Mother when it comes to CarGo and Tulo. If they sneeze, they don't play.
Besides CarGo being injury prone, he is also bored easily.
If (when) the Rockies play themselves out of a pennant race, CarGo loses interest.
He has missed most of the last three August's and September's.
He has 99 at bats in August over the last three years. Just 61 in September.
And worse, when he DOES play those months, he doesn't play well.
He's had two August homers. One in September.
A killer for Fantasy owners.
The Rockies front office has revered CarGo. Almost as much as Tulo.
Since though, they have overhauled front office Management. It is still to be determined whether things will change or not with the Rockies. The new hire may just be a puppet for the Rockies owner. Little has been done since the shift in the front office, leaving no indication as to how the new regime will proceed.
A trade would probably hurt CarGo's numbers, since Coors is THE place to hit. At the same time, an interested CarGo could be a boon for a fantasy team. Six months of quality beats three months of Super-quality. At least for a fantasy owner.
So, to answer the questions....
No, Carlos Gonzalez is not done.
Yes, he can stay healthy. Especially if traded.
I don't think his numbers will tumble if traded. A small hit, maybe. But I'll take that hit if it means having him in a lineup for 6 months.
Yes, I fully believe he will be healthier in a pennant contending locale.
CarGo 'packs it in' if there is no pennant race. He could come back from some injuries, but he and his coddling Rockies Management, will not allow it.
A trade may be best for him and the Rockies.
No, the player is Carlos Gonzalez.
Is CarGo done?
Can he stay healthy?
How much do his numbers go down if traded?
Does he stay healthier in a different location?
After last year's rash of injuries that affected so many drafters and teams, players like CarGo are taking a hit.
I've been in five drafts. CarGo has gone in the bottom of the second round twice. Top of the third round once. Bottom of the third round once. And the bottom of the fourth round.
In the past, a player of CarGo's talents was 'forgiven' for being hurt. After last year, not so much.
My friend Joey Votto is going in the fifth and sixth round of drafts.
Jason Kipnis in the fith, sixth, and seventh.
Dustin Pedroia in the sixth and seventh.
During the first half of last year, drafters were saying that Tulo was a top 5 pick. Now, since injury, he is mostly found in the second round.
Yu Darvish, with all the pitching talent in the world, is a fourth round pick most of the time.
Players like these were like buying dented canned goods at a grocery store. We get a discount for the obvious nicks and dents we see. What we're hoping for is that the product is intact for future use.
This year is different.
The only player going consistently in the first round this year, who was injured last year, is Paul Goldschmidt.
He is forgiven, presumably, because he is a first basemen and 1b seem to get hurt less than others.
150 games played has become almost or as important as past 30 sb or past 30 home run seasons from somebody like Carlos Gonzalez.
So, what about CarGo?
CarGo had just 11 homers and hit .238 in 260 ab's last year. We can say it was because he played through injury.
But, that would be wrong.
The Rockies are like an over-protective Mother when it comes to CarGo and Tulo. If they sneeze, they don't play.
Besides CarGo being injury prone, he is also bored easily.
If (when) the Rockies play themselves out of a pennant race, CarGo loses interest.
He has missed most of the last three August's and September's.
He has 99 at bats in August over the last three years. Just 61 in September.
And worse, when he DOES play those months, he doesn't play well.
He's had two August homers. One in September.
A killer for Fantasy owners.
The Rockies front office has revered CarGo. Almost as much as Tulo.
Since though, they have overhauled front office Management. It is still to be determined whether things will change or not with the Rockies. The new hire may just be a puppet for the Rockies owner. Little has been done since the shift in the front office, leaving no indication as to how the new regime will proceed.
A trade would probably hurt CarGo's numbers, since Coors is THE place to hit. At the same time, an interested CarGo could be a boon for a fantasy team. Six months of quality beats three months of Super-quality. At least for a fantasy owner.
So, to answer the questions....
No, Carlos Gonzalez is not done.
Yes, he can stay healthy. Especially if traded.
I don't think his numbers will tumble if traded. A small hit, maybe. But I'll take that hit if it means having him in a lineup for 6 months.
Yes, I fully believe he will be healthier in a pennant contending locale.
CarGo 'packs it in' if there is no pennant race. He could come back from some injuries, but he and his coddling Rockies Management, will not allow it.
A trade may be best for him and the Rockies.